Water-softening system

ABSTRACT

A water-softening system includes a filter device including filter units that are provided in at least some of a plurality of supply channels arranged in parallel to supply raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least part of ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionization and discharge soft water containing less ionic matter than the raw water, a plurality of supply valves provided in the plurality of supply channels to open or close the supply channels, and a processor connected to the filter device and the plurality of supply valves. The processor determines whether water is supplied to the consumption site and controls at least one of the plurality of supply valves to remain open to maintain a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site, when it is determined that no water is supplied to the consumption site.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. NonprovisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 16/803,391, filed on Feb. 27, 2020, and toKorean Patent Application Nos. 10-2019-0026110 and 10-2020-0009529,filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 7, 2019 andJan. 23, 2020, respectively, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a water-softening system.

BACKGROUND

A water-softening system of a Point of Entry (PoE) type is a system thatproduces soft water from raw water and supplies the soft water to aconsumption site. The consumption site may be a house. The soft watersupplied to the consumption site is delivered to a faucet, a showerhead, or the like for use.

When water is used in the consumption site, water is automaticallysupplied to the consumption site through the water-softening system bywater pressure of raw water delivered from a water source to theconsumption site. That is, the water-softening system cannot determinewhen to supply water to the consumption site.

The water-softening system needs to recognize when water is supplied tothe consumption site. This is because when water is supplied to theconsumption site, the water-softening system has to be controlled toproduce soft water from raw water.

As foreign matter is accumulated or adsorbed in the water-softeningsystem, a capability to produce soft water may be degraded, andimpurities may be mixed with soft water. Accordingly, treatment isrequired to return the capability to produce soft water to the originalstate and remove impurities that are likely to be mixed with soft water.

Meanwhile, water may be used in the consumption site even while thetreatment is performed. To sufficiently deliver water to the consumptionsite irrespective of the treatment, the water-softening system needs toconsistently determine whether water is used in the consumption site andneeds to supply water even while the treatment is performed.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentionedproblems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by theprior art are maintained intact.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a water-softening systemfor always determining whether water is supplied to a consumption site.Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a water-softeningsystem for performing predetermined treatment and during the treatment,determining whether water is used in a consumption site.

The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are notlimited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technical problemsnot mentioned herein will be clearly understood from the followingdescription by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a water-softeningsystem includes a filter device including filter units that are providedin at least some of a plurality of supply channels arranged in parallelto supply raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least partof ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionizationand discharge soft water containing less ionic matter than the rawwater, a plurality of supply valves provided in the plurality of supplychannels to open or close the supply channels, and a processor connectedto the filter device and the plurality of supply valves. The processordetermines whether water is supplied to the consumption site andcontrols at least one of the plurality of supply valves to remain opento maintain a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to theconsumption site, when it is determined that no water is supplied to theconsumption site.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a water-softeningsystem includes filter units that are provided in supply channels forsupplying raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least partof ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electric force anddischarge soft water containing less ionic matter than the raw water,filter valves provided in filter channels provided with the filter unitsamong the supply channels, a treatment device that provides a treatmentsubstance for predetermined treatment to the filter channels, and aprocessor connected to the filter units, the filter valves, and thetreatment device. The processor controls the treatment device to providethe treatment substance to the filter channels, when a preset conditionis satisfied and controls the filter valves to remain closed duringtreatment by the treatment substance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water-softening system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the principle by which ionicmatter is removed in a CDI method;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the principle by whichelectrodes are regenerated in the CDI method;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of supplying water bycontrolling filter units arranged in parallel in the water-softeningsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing predeterminedtreatment on filter channels using the water-softening system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. In addingthe reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should benoted that the identical or equivalent component is designated by theidentical numeral even when they are displayed on other drawings.Further, in describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, adetailed description of well-known features or functions will be ruledout in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the presentdisclosure.

In describing the components of the embodiment according to the presentdisclosure, terms such as first, second, “A”, “B”, (a), (b), and thelike may be used. These terms are merely intended to distinguish onecomponent from another component, and the terms do not limit the nature,sequence or order of the components. When a component is described as“connected”, “coupled”, or “linked” to another component, this may meanthe components are not only directly “connected”, “coupled”, or “linked”but also are indirectly “connected”, “coupled”, or “linked” via a thirdcomponent.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water-softening system 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the water-softening system 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include a filter device, supplychannels 30, supply valves 20, and a processor. The water-softeningsystem 1 may further include drain channels 50, a treatment device 60, aflow-rate acquisition device 75, and other components.

Supply Channels 30

The supply channels 30 are channels for supplying raw water to aconsumption site P. The supply channels 30 may be arranged in parallel.The supply channels 30 may include filter channels 31 and 32 and a rawwater channel. Among the supply channels 30, the filter channels 31 and32 refer to channels provided with filter units 10 of the filter device,and the raw water channel refers to a channel that is not provided withthe filter units 10 such that the raw water is delivered to theconsumption site P without change. Accordingly, some of the supplychannels 30 may be the filter channels 31 and 32, and the rest may bethe raw water channel. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, atotal of three supply channels 30 are famed, and the first supplychannel 31, the second supply channel 32, and the third supply channel33 are arranged in parallel. Among the three supply channels 30, twosupply channels are the filter channels 31 and 32, and the rest is theraw water channel. However, the configuration of the supply channels 30is not limited thereto.

The supply channels 30 connect a water source S and the consumption siteP. Here, the meaning of the term “connect” includes not only directlyconnecting the water source S and the consumption site P but alsoindirectly connecting the water source S and the consumption site Pthrough other components. The supply channels 30 may be famed in ahollow tubular shape to deliver raw water from the water source S to theconsumption site P.

The supply valves 20 are components disposed in the supply channels 30to adjust opening/closing of the supply channels 30. As thevalve-opening degrees of the supply valves 20 are adjusted, the supplyvalves 20 may open or close the supply channels 30. When the supplychannels 30 are closed by the supply valves 20, water is not deliveredto the consumption site P through the closed supply channels 30. Whenthe supply channels 30 are opened by the supply valves 20, water isdelivered to the consumption site P through the opened supply channels30.

The processor may perform control such that at least one of the supplyvalves 20 remains open during operation of the water-softening system 1.Accordingly, even while the filter channels 31 and 32 are treated or anyone of the filter units 10 performs a regeneration mode, at least onesupply channel 30 may remain connected to the consumption site P todeliver water, and whether water is supplied to the consumption site Pmay always be determined. When water is supplied to the consumption siteP regardless of a situation inside the water-softening system 1, watermay be supplied through the opened supply channel 30, and through theoccurrence of the water flow, it can be identified that water issupplied to the consumption site P due to the use of water by a user. Incontrast, when no water is supplied to the consumption site P, a waterflow does not occur even through at least one supply channel 30 is open.Therefore, it can be identified that no water is supplied to theconsumption site P because the user does not use water.

The supply valves 20 may be solenoid valves that remain open or closedin a default state in which electric power is not supplied and that areclosed or opened only in an activated state in which electric power issupplied. However, the supply valves 20 may not be limited thereto.

The filter channels 31 and 32 are the supply channels 30 provided withthe filter units 10 and may include the first supply channel 31 and thesecond supply channel 32 as illustrated. The filter units 10 may bedisposed in the filter channels 31 and 32. Accordingly, the filter unit10 disposed in the first supply channel 31 may be a first filter unit11, and the filter unit 10 disposed in the second supply channel 32 maybe a second filter unit 12. Detailed contents regarding the filter units10 will be given in the description of the filter device.

The supply valves disposed in the filter channels 31 and 32 may bereferred to as filter valves 21 and 22. Accordingly, the filter valves21 and 22 may include the first supply valve 21 disposed in the firstsupply channel 31 provided with the first filter unit 11 and the secondsupply valve 22 disposed in the second supply channel 32 provided withthe second filter unit 12.

Downstream of the filter units 10, the filter valves 21 and 22 may beinstalled in the filter channels 31 and 32.

The raw water channel is the supply channel 30 connected to theconsumption site P so as to be distinguished from the filter channels 31and 32 to form a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to theconsumption site P even while the filter valves 21 and 22 are closed fortreatment by a treatment substance that will be described below.Accordingly, the raw water channel may include the third supply channel33 that is not provided with the filter units 10 as illustrated.

The raw water channel may include a raw water valve that is acorresponding valve. The third supply channel 33 may include a thirdsupply valve 23 provided therein, and the third supply valve 23 may be araw water valve.

However, according to a modified example of the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the third supply channel 33 may not be present, andthe supply channels 30 may include only the first supply channel 31 andthe second supply channel 32. Accordingly, the third supply valve 23 maynot be present.

The first supply valve 21 may be a solenoid valve that remains open inthe default state, in which no electrical signal is received, and thatis closed only when receiving an electrical signal. The second supplyvalve 22 and the third supply valve 23, which are the remaining supplyvalves 20 other than the first supply valve 21, may be solenoid valvesthat remain closed in a default state and that are opened only whenreceiving an electrical signal. However, the types of the valves and thestates of the valves in the default state are not limited thereto.

Even though the consumption site P requires water supply while all thesupply valves 20 are closed, the water-softening system 1 cannotrecognize such a request. The water-softening system 1 may recognizethat the consumption site P requires water supply and may try to deliverwater stored in the water-softening system 1 to the consumption site P.However, because all the supply valves 20 are closed, very high pressuremay be required to forcibly feed water.

If at least one supply valve 20 is open, when the consumption site Prequires water supply, water flows through the water-softening system 1by pressure at which raw water is supplied from the water source S. Theflow-rate acquisition device 75, which will be described below, may beused to determine whether water flows in the water-softening system 1.Accordingly, whether the consumption site P requires water supply may bedetermined based on whether water flows in the water-softening system 1.When the supply of water to the consumption site P is required, thefilter units 10 may be appropriately operated to supply soft water tothe consumption site P. The first supply valve 21 may remain open in thedefault state, in which no electrical signal is received, to allow thewater-softening system 1 to perform the above-described operation. Thefirst supply valve 21 may be referred to as a reference valve.

A connecting channel that connects the water source S and the filterchannels 31 and 32 to supply raw water to the filter channels 31 and 32among the supply channels 30 may be additionally disposed, and aconnecting check valve 74 that allows water to flow only in onedirection may be disposed in the connecting channel. The connectingcheck valve 74 may be disposed to interrupt a reverse flow of water fromthe filter channels 31 and 32 to the water source S without interruptingthe supply of raw water to the filter channels 31 and 32. A solenoidvalve may be used as the connecting check valve 74. Furthermore, theconnecting check valve 74 may always remain open to allow raw water tobe supplied to the filter channels 31 and 32 and may be closed only whenreceiving an electrical signal.

Filter Device

The filter device is a component that removes ionic matter in raw waterand generates soft water. The filter device includes the filter units10. The filter units 10 are components that are provided in the filterchannels 31 and 32, which are at least some supply channels, and thatremove at least part of ionic matter contained in supplied raw water byelectric force and release soft water containing less ionic matter thanthe raw water.

The filter units 10 may remove the ionic matter by electro-deionization.More specifically, there is an electro-deionization method among methodsof removing ionic matter. When DC voltage is applied to chargedparticles in an electrolyte, positively charged particles move to anegative electrode, and negatively charged particles move to a positiveelectrode. This is called electrophoresis. The electro-deionizationmethod refers to a method of selectively adsorbing or moving andremoving an ion (ionic matter) in water through electrodes or an ionexchange membrane, based on the principle of electric force(electrophoresis).

The electro-deionization method includes Electrodialysis (ED), ElectroDeionization (EDI), Continuous Electro Deionization (CEDI), CapacitiveDeionization (CDI), and the like. A filter unit of an ED type includeselectrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Further, a filter unit of anEDI type includes electrodes, an ion exchange membrane, and an ionexchange resin. In contrast, a filter unit of a CDI type does notinclude both an ion exchange membrane and an ion exchange resin, or doesnot include an ion exchange resin.

The filter units 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay remove ionic matter using the Capacitive Deionization (CDI) amongthe electro-deionization methods. The CDI refers to a method of removingan ion using the principle by which an ion (or ionic matter) is adsorbedon or desorbed from the surface of an electrode by electric force.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the principle by which ionicmatter is removed in the CDI method. FIG. 3 is a schematic viewillustrating the principle by which electrodes are regenerated in theCDI method.

A removal mode and a regeneration mode in the CDI method will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 . As illustrated in FIG.2 , when water containing ions passes between electrodes in a state inwhich voltage is applied to the electrodes, negative ions move to thepositive electrode, and positive ions move to the negative electrode.That is, adsorption occurs. The ions may be removed from the water bythe adsorption. The mode in which the filter unit 10 removes, throughthe electrodes, the ions (ionic matter) in the water passing through thefilter unit 10 is referred to as the removal mode.

However, the adsorption capacity of the electrodes is limited.Accordingly, as the adsorption continues, the electrodes can no longeradsorb ions. To prevent this, the electrodes need to be regenerated byremoving the ions adsorbed on the electrodes. To this end, asillustrated in FIG. 3 , voltage opposite to that in the removal mode maybe applied to the electrodes, or no voltage may be applied to theelectrodes. The mode in which the filter unit 10 regenerates theelectrodes is referred to as the regeneration mode. The regenerationmode may be performed before or after the removal mode.

Accordingly, for this operation, the filter unit 10 may includeelectrodes. The filter unit 10 may selectively perform the removal modeof removing ionic matter by electro-deionization through the electrodes,or the regeneration mode of regenerating the electrodes. Accordingly,when raw water is supplied to the filter unit 10, the filter unit 10 maygenerate and release soft water by removing at least part of ionicmatter in the raw water in the removal mode, and the filter unit 10 mayrelease water with an increased ion content by providing ionic matteradsorbed on the electrodes to the raw water in the regeneration mode.

The filter device may include at least two filter units 10 such that atleast two supply channels 30 among the plurality of supply channels 30are provided with the filter units 10, respectively. Accordingly, one ofthe at least two filter units 10 may be the first filter unit 11 and maybe disposed in the first supply channel 31, and another one of the atleast two filter units 10 may be the second filter unit 12 and may bedisposed in the second supply channel 32.

Drain Channels 50

The drain channels 50 are components that are connected to the filterchannels 31 and 32 among the supply channels 30 and that drain water inthe filter channels 31 and 32 to the outside. Accordingly, likewise tothe supply channels 30, the drain channels 50 may be formed in a hollowtubular shape such that fluid is capable of flowing through the drainchannels 50.

The drain channels 50 may be connected to the filter channels 31 and 32,respectively. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure,the drain channels 50 may include a first drain channel 51 and a seconddrain channel 52 because the filter channels 31 and 32 include the firstsupply channel 31 and the second supply channel 32. The first drainchannel 51 may be connected to the first supply channel 31, and thesecond drain channel 52 may be connected to the second supply channel32.

The drain channels 50 may be disposed downstream of the filter units 10with respect to the flow direction of raw water. Accordingly, the rawwater provided along the existing flow direction of the raw water maypass through the filter units 10 and may be discharged to the drainchannels 50. However, the drain channels 50 may be disposed upstream ofthe filter units 10 with respect to the flow direction of the raw water.

Specifically, the drain channels 50 are connected to the filter channels31 and 32, which are the supply channels 30 provided with the filterunits 10, and discharge water that is released from the filter units 10and that contains a larger amount of ionic matter than the raw water,when the filter units 10 are in the regeneration mode.

However, the water is not always discharged, and the discharge may beadjusted. Accordingly, drain valves 40 may be provided in the drainchannels 50 to open or close the drain channels 50. In an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, because the drain channels 50 include the firstdrain channel 51 and the second drain channel 52, a first drain valve 41may be disposed in the first drain channel 51, and a second drain valve42 may be disposed in the second drain channel 52.

Drain check valves 77, which are check valves, may be disposed upstreamof the drain valves 40 with respect to the flow direction of water. Thedrain check valves 77 may be check valves that allow water to bedischarged from the filter channels 31 and 32 through the drain channels50, but interrupt a reverse flow of water from the outside to the filterchannels 31 and 32.

Treatment Device 60

The treatment device 60 is a component that provides a treatmentsubstance for predetermined treatment to the filter channels 31 and 32.The treatment device 60 may include a pump 62 and a tank 61. The tank 61is a component that stores the treatment substance used for treatmentsuch as sterilization, cleaning, or the like, and the pump 62 is acomponent that forcibly feeds the treatment substance stored in the tank61 to the filter channels 31 and 32. The treatment substance may be, butis not limited to, a citric acid, and may further include anothersterilizing substance.

As illustrated, the treatment device 60 maybe disposed upstream of thefilter device with respect to the flow direction of water so as to beconnected to the filter channels 31 and 32. However, the treatmentdevice 60 may be disposed downstream of the filter device. Upstream ofthe filter units 10, the treatment device 60 may provide the treatmentsubstance to the filter channels 31 and 32. However, the treatmentdevice 60 may be disposed downstream of the filter units 10 as long asthe treatment device 60 is capable of providing the treatment substanceto stagnant water in the filter channels 31 and 32.

The treatment device 60 may be directly connected to the filter channels31 and 32, but may be indirectly connected to the filter channels 31 and32 through other channels. Furthermore, the treatment device 60 mayfurther include a treatment check valve 63 to prevent water from flowingbackward to the tank 61 or the pump 62. The treatment check valve 63 maybe a check valve that allows water or the treatment substance to bereleased from the tank 61 and the pump 62 to the filter channels 31 and32, but interrupts a reverse flow of the water or the treatmentsubstance from the filter channels 31 and 32 to the tank 61 or the pump62.

Flow-Rate Acquisition Device 75

The flow-rate acquisition device 75 is a component that obtains the flowrate of water delivered to the consumption site P. As the flow rate isobtained, the processor may determine whether water is delivered to theconsumption site P. When the flow rate obtained by the flow-rateacquisition device 75 is higher than or equal to a critical flow rate,the processor, which will be described below, may determine that wateris supplied to the consumption site P. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the critical flow rate may be, but is not limited to,1.5LPM. The flow-rate acquisition device 75 may obtain the flow rate ofwater delivered to the consumption site P, by using the Karman vortexmethod, a method using the Doppler Effect, or the like. However, themethod of obtaining the flow rate is not limited thereto.

In FIG. 1 , the flow-rate acquisition device 75 is illustrated asdisposed downstream of the supply channels 30 with respect to the flowdirection of raw water. However, the flow-rate acquisition device 75 maybe disposed upstream of the supply channels 30.

The flow-rate acquisition device 75 is connected with the processor andtransfers the obtained flow rate to the processor. The processor mayadjust opening/closing of the valves depending on the received flowrate.

Other Components

The water-softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include TDS sensors 72 and 76. The TDS sensors 72and 76 are components that measure total dissolved solid (TDS) containedin water. The TDS sensors 72 and 76 may be disposed upstream anddownstream of the supply channels 30 with respect to the flow directionof water. The TDS sensor 72 and 76 may transfer the obtained TDSs to theprocessor, and the transferred TDSs may be used for various operationsand control.

That is, the processor may control opening/closing of the valves in thewater-softening system 1 or operation of the filter units 10, based onat least one of the TDSs transferred from the upstream TDS sensor 72 andthe downstream TDS sensor 76. For example, when the TDS measured by theupstream TDS sensor 72 is high, the processor may perform control suchthat the filter units 10 receive higher voltage and remove a largeramount of ionic matter in the removal mode, or may perform control toreduce mode transition time during which the mode performed by thefilter units 10 is switched. However, the control of the processor isnot limited thereto.

Furthermore, the TDSs obtained by the TDS sensors 72 and 76 may betransferred to the processor, and the processor may be connected to adisplay device (not illustrated) to display the obtained TDSs. As theobtained TDSs are displayed, a user may identify the quality of waterflowing in the water-softening system 1 as needed.

The water-softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a regulator 73. The regulator 73 may bedisposed upstream of the supply channels 30 with respect to the flowdirection of water. Accordingly, the flow rate of raw water delivered tothe supply channels 30 may be maintained within a predetermined range.Furthermore, a pre-filter 71 may be disposed on the most upstream side.The pre-filter 71 may firstly filter various types of foreign substancesand may deliver filtered water to the supply channels 30.

Processor (Not Illustrated)

The processor is a component that includes an element capable of a logicoperation of performing a control command. The processor may include acentral processing unit (CPU). The processor may be connected tocomponents such as the filter device, the supply valves 20, and the likeand may transfer signals depending on control commands to thecomponents. The processor may be connected to various sensors oracquisition devices and may receive obtained information in a signalform. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessor may be connected to the filter device, the treatment device60, and the supply valves 20.

Furthermore, the processor may be additionally connected to the drainvalves 40, the flow-rate acquisition device 75, the regulator 73, andthe TDS sensors 72 and 76. The processor may be electrically connectedwith the components. The processor may be wiredly connected to thecomponents, or may additionally have a communication module capable ofwireless communication to communicate with the components.

Control commands that the processor performs may be stored and utilizedon a storage medium, and the storage medium may be, but is not limitedto, a device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD),a server, a volatile medium, a nonvolatile medium, or the like. Inaddition, data required for the processor to perform tasks may beadditionally stored in the storage medium.

A method by which the processor controls the water-softening system 1will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of supplying water bycontrolling the filter units 10 arranged in parallel in thewater-softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

A method of supplying water to the consumption site P by controlling thefilter units 10 in the water-softening system 1 will be described belowwith additional reference to FIG. 4 . The third supply valve 23, whichis the raw water valve, may remain closed because predeterminedtreatment is not performed on the filter units 10. The third supplyvalve 23, which is the raw water valve, may not be included in thewater-softening system 1 as described above when water is supplied tothe consumption site P by controlling the filter units 10. Furthermore,the third supply channel 33 may also not be included in thewater-softening system 1.

To maintain a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to theconsumption site P, the processor may perform control such that at leastone of the supply valves 20 remains open in a state in which thewater-softening system 1 is installed. Because the at least one supplyvalve 20 is open, water may always be delivered to the consumption siteP not only in a state in which it is determined that water continues tobe supplied to the consumption site P but also in a state in which it isdetermined that no water is supplied to the consumption site P. A usermay operate a faucet to request water to be supplied to the consumptionsite P, and water may be supplied to the consumption site P through thesupply channel 30 in which the open supply valve 20 is disposed.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the default state, asdescribed above, the first supply vale 21 may be opened, and theremaining valves may be closed. Accordingly, when water supply isrequested by the consumption site P, water may be supplied to theconsumption site P through the first supply channel 31. The defaultstate may be referred to as a standby state (S101). In the standbystate, the filter units 10 may not be operated.

In a modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, inthe default state, the first supply valve 21 and the second supply valve22 may be opened. Accordingly, when water supply is requested by theconsumption site P, water may be supplied to the consumption site Pthrough the first supply channel 31 and the second supply channel 32.The modified example may include the modified standby state describedabove. In the modified standby state, both the first supply valve 21 andthe second supply valve 22 may be opened, and it may be recognized thatwater is used in the consumption site P even when any one supply valvefails. Accordingly, the reliability of the water-softening system 1 ofthe present disclosure may be improved. In the modified standby state,the filter units 10 may not be operated.

In the standby state (S101), the processor determines whether water issupplied to the consumption site P (S102). A flow rate that theflow-rate acquisition device 75 transfers to the processor may be usedto determine whether water is supplied to the consumption site P.

When it is determined that no water is supplied to the consumption siteP, the processor performs control such that at least one of theplurality of supply valves 20 remains open to maintain a state in whichwater is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site P. Here, the atleast one supply valve 20 may be the first supply valve 21. That is, theprocessor may return to the standby state. Furthermore, according to themodified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessor may return to the modified standby state when it is determinedthat no water is supplied to the consumption site P.

The processor may determine that water is supplied to the consumptionsite P. That is, the processor may determine that water starts to besupplied to the consumption site P through the supply channel 30 inwhich the supply valve 20 in the open state is installed. At this time,in the standby state or the modified standby state, the processor mayperform control such that one of the first and second filter units 11and 12 pertains the removal mode and the other performs the regenerationmode, and the processor may perform control to open the supply valve 20installed in the supply channel 30 provided with the filter unit 10 thatperforms the removal mode and may perform control to close the supplyvalve 20 installed in the supply channel 30 provided with the filterunit 10 that performs the regeneration mode. At this time, the filterunit 10 that performs the removal mode may be the filter unit 10installed in the supply channel 30 in which the supply valve 20 in theopen state is installed. When it is determined that water is supplied tothe consumption site P in the modified standby state, one of the firstsupply valve 21 and the second supply valve 22 that are open may beclosed, and only the filter unit 10 corresponding to the other may becontrolled to perform the removal mode. One example of the state inwhich the control is performed on the basis that water is supplied tothe consumption site P in the standby state or the modified standbystate is described as S103 in FIG. 4 .

At this time, the processor may perform control such that the drainvalves 40 are changed to opposite states to the open/closed states ofthe corresponding supply valves 20 in conjunction with the open/closedstates of the corresponding supply valves 20. Here, the supply valves 20corresponding to the respective drain valves 40 refer to the supplyvalves 20 disposed in the supply channels 30 to which the predetermineddrain valves 40 are connected.

Description will be given based on the standby state (S101) according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. In a state in which the firstsupply valve 21 is open, water starts to be supplied to the consumptionsite P through the first supply channel 31 in which the first supplyvalve 21 is installed. At this time, the processor may operate thefilter device and may control open/closed states of the valves. In thestate in which the first supply valve 21 is open, the processor mayperform control such that the first filter unit 11 performs the removalmode and the second filter unit 12 performs the regeneration mode(S103). When water starts to be supplied in the modified standby state,control to close the second supply valve 22 may be additionallyperformed in addition to the above-described control.

Furthermore, the processor may perform control such that the firstsupply valve 21 remains open and the second supply valve 22 remainsclosed. Correspondingly, the processor may pertain control such that thefirst drain valve 41 is closed and the second drain valve 42 is opened.

Whenever mode transition time, which is predetermined time, elapsesafter water starts to be supplied to the consumption site P, theprocessor may determine again whether water is supplied to theconsumption site P. The mode transition time may be, but is not limitedto, 90 seconds. When it is determined again that water is supplied tothe consumption site P, the processor may perform control such that thefirst filter unit 11 performs the removal mode or the regeneration modethat is not currently performed by the first filter unit 11 and thesecond filter unit 12 performs the removal mode or the regeneration modethat is not currently performed by the second filter unit 12.Furthermore, the processor may perform control to open the first orsecond supply valve 21 or 22 installed in the supply channel 30 providedwith the filter unit 10 that is to perform the removal mode and mayperform control to close the first or second supply valve 21 or 22installed in the supply channel 30 provided with the filter unit 10 thatis to perform the regeneration mode.

Description will be given based on the situation (S104) in which themode transition time elapses and whether water is supplied to theconsumption site P is determined again after the situation (S103) inwhich the control is performed on the basis that water is supplied tothe consumption site P for the first time. When it is determined againthat water is supplied to the consumption site P (S105), in contrast toS103, the processor may perform control such that the first filter unit11 performs the regeneration mode and the second filter unit 12 performsthe removal mode. Furthermore, in contrast to S103, the processor maypertain control such that the first supply valve 21 is closed and thesecond supply valve 22 is opened. The drain valves 40 may be controlledto be changed to opposite states to the states of the correspondingsupply valves 20. Therefore, in contrast to S103, the processor mayperform control such that the first drain valve 41 is opened and thesecond drain valve 42 is closed.

Thereafter, whether water is supplied to the consumption site P may bedetermined again after the mode transition time elapses (S106). When itis determined that water is still supplied to the consumption site P,the processor may return to the previous state (S103). Accordingly, theprocessor may carry out control such as a cycle in which, while watercontinues to be supplied to the consumption site P, the modes of thefilter units 10 are alternately changed and the open/closed states ofthe supply valves 20 and the drain valves 40 are changed depending onthe states of the filter units 10. That is, the water-softening system 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may continue tosupply soft water to the consumption site P without a stop whilereciprocating between S103 and S105 with a period corresponding to twicethe mode transition time.

It has been described that whenever the mode transition time elapsesafter water starts to be supplied to the consumption site P, theprocessor determines again whether water is supplied to the consumptionsite P. When it is determined that no water is supplied to theconsumption site P (S107 and S109), the processor may perform controlsuch that the first or second filter unit 11 or 12 performing theremoval mode performs the regeneration mode and the first or secondfilter unit 11 or 12 performing the regeneration mode stops operating.Furthermore, the processor may perform control to open the first orsecond supply valve 21 or 22 installed in the supply channel 30 providedwith the filter unit 10 that is to stop operating and may performcontrol to close the first or second supply valve 21 or 22 installed inthe supply channel 30 provided with the filter unit 10 that is toperform the regeneration mode.

Description will be given based on the situation (S104) in which themode transition time elapses and whether water is supplied to theconsumption site P is determined again after the situation (S103) inwhich the control is performed on the basis that water is supplied tothe consumption site P for the first time. When it is determined that nowater is supplied to the consumption site P (S107), in contrast to S103,the processor may perform control such that the first filter unit 11performs the regeneration mode and the second filter unit 12 stopsoperating. In contrast to S103, the processor may perform control suchthat the first supply valve 21 is closed and the second supply valve 22is opened. In contrast to S103, the processor may perform control suchthat the first drain valve 41 is opened and the second drain valve 42 isclosed.

Description will be given based on the situation (S106) in which themode transition time elapses and whether water is supplied to theconsumption site P is determined again after the situation (S105) inwhich the control is performed on the basis that water is supplied tothe consumption site P. When it is determined that no water is suppliedto the consumption site P (S109), in contrast to S105, the processor mayperform control such that the first filter unit 11 stops operating andthe second filter unit 12 performs the regeneration mode. In contrast toS105, the processor may perform control such that the first supply valve21 is opened and the second supply valve 22 is closed. In contrast toS105, the processor may perform control such that the first drain valve41 is closed and the second drain valve 42 is opened.

In the situation in which the control is performed such that the supplyof water to the consumption site P is stopped, the filter unit 10 useduntil now regenerates electrodes while performing the regeneration mode,and the filter unit 10 disposed in the supply channel 30 connected withthe consumption site P in the open state may stop operating and maymaintain the state of always supplying water to the consumption site P.

Until confirmation time, which is predetermined time, elapses after itis determined that the supply of water to the consumption site P isstopped, the processor may determine again whether water is supplied tothe consumption site P (S108 and S109). The confirmation time may be,but is not limited to, 90 seconds. When it is determined that no wateris supplied to the consumption site P (S101), the processor may performcontrol such that the first and second filter units 11 and 12 stopoperating, a predetermined one of the first and second supply valves 21and 22 is opened, and the other is closed. Furthermore, the processormay perform control such that the drain valves 40 are closed. Accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure, when it is determined thatwater is not still supplied to the consumption site P even after theconfirmation time elapses (S108 and S110), the processor may performcontrol such that the filter units 10 and the valves return to thestandby state (S101).

Until the confirmation time elapses after it is determined that thesupply of water to the consumption site P is stopped, the processor maydetermine again whether water is supplied to the consumption site P, ata predetermined time interval (S108 and S110) and may determine thatwater is supplied to the consumption site P (S103 and S105). In thiscase, the processor may perform control such that the first or secondfilter unit 11 and 12 that stops operating performs the removal modewhile the open/closed states of the first and second supply valves 21and 22 are maintained. Here, the predetermined time interval at whichwhether water is supplied or not is determined may be, but is notlimited to, 1 second, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or the likethat is obtained by dividing 90 seconds by a natural number.

Referring to the situation (S105) in which it is determined in S108 thatwater is supplied to the consumption site P, it can be seen that thecontrol of the first filter unit 11 performing the regeneration mode andthe control of the valves are the same as those in S107, but only thesecond filter unit 12 that stops operating is controlled by theprocessor to perform the removal mode.

Referring to the situation (S103) in which it is determined in S110 thatwater is supplied to the consumption site P, it can be seen that thecontrol of the second filter unit 12 performing the regeneration modeand the control of the valves are the same as those in S109, but onlythe first filter unit 11 that stops operating is controlled by theprocessor to perform the removal mode.

As described above, even though the supply of water to the consumptionsite P is temporarily stopped, when the supply of water to theconsumption site P restarts within the confirmation time, soft water maybe supplied to the consumption site P again by minimum control, and acycle may be resumed to supply soft water to the consumption site P.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing predeterminedtreatment on the filter channels 31 and 32 using the water-softeningsystem 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

When a preset condition is satisfied, the processor may perform controlsuch that the treatment device 60 provides the treatment substance tothe filter channels 31 and 32 and may perform control such that thefilter valves 21 and 22 remain closed during treatment by the treatmentsubstance. Here, the preset condition may be, but is not limited to,whether predetermined time elapses such that the treatment substance isperiodically provided, whether the current time reaches predeterminedtime such that the treatment substance is provided every predeterminedtime, or whether a user inputs a treatment command using an operationdevice connected with the processor.

More specifically, when the preset condition is satisfied, so as to forma state for easily providing the treatment material to the filterchannels 31 and 32 by the treatment device 60, the processor may performcontrol such that the filter units 10 stop operating and the filtervalves 21 and 22 are closed (S201). Furthermore, the processor mayperform control such that the third supply valve 23, which is the rawwater valve, remains open while the filter valves 21 and 22 are closedfor treatment by the treatment substance. Moreover, the processor mayperform control such that the drain valves 40 remain open for a firstperiod of time that is predetermined time and may perform control suchthat the pump 62 operates while the drain valves 40 remain open for thefirst period of time. As described above, the treatment substance may beprovided from the treatment device 60 to the filter channels 31 and 32while the drain valves 40 remain open (S202).

The first period of time may be time from when the treatment substanceis provided to the filter channels 31 and 32 to when the treatmentsubstance reaches the drain valves 40.

After the filter valves 21 and 22 are closed and then the first periodof time elapses, the processor may perform control such that the drainvalves 40 are closed and the pump 62 stops operating (S203). Because theraw water valve is open, the consumption site P may receive waterthrough the raw water channel. The state in which the treatmentsubstance is provided to the filter channels 31 and 32, but the filtervalves 21 and 22 and the drain valves 40 are all closed (S203) may bereferred to as a treatment state.

The processor may perform control such that the drain valves 40 remainclosed during the treatment. The treatment may be performed for a secondperiod of time, and the processor may determine whether the secondperiod of time elapses after the start of the treatment (S204). When itis determined that the second period of time does not elapse, thetreatment continues to be performed without separate control (S203).While the treatment is performed, water mixed with the treatmentsubstance may stay in the filter channels 31 and 32 and the filter units10 to perform predetermined treatment on the filter units 10 and thefilter channels 31 and 32. When the treatment substance is a citricacid, the filter units 10 and the filter channels 31 and 32 may becleaned. The second period of time may be 30 minutes, but may beappropriately changed depending on the type of the treatment substance.

When the second period of time elapses after the start of the treatment,the water and the treatment substance used for the treatment have to bedischarged. Accordingly, to discharge the treatment substance, theprocessor performs control such that the drain valves 40 are opened inthe closed state of the filter valves 21 and 22 after the second periodof time (S205).

To discharge the treatment substance, the processor may allow the water,the treatment substance, and by-products by predetermined treatment ofthe treatment substance to sufficiently escape, by performing controlsuch that the drain valves 40 are open for a third period of time. Thethird period of time may be 30 seconds, but may be appropriatelyselected depending on the capacities of the filter channels 31 and 32 orthe capacities of the drain channels 50.

Even after the drain valves 40 for discharging the treatment substanceare opened and the water containing the treatment substance iscompletely discharged through the drain valves 40, the processor maymaintain the open state of the drain valves 40 and the closed state ofthe filter valves 21 and 22 and may perform a rinsing mode in whichwater additionally flows to rinse the filter units 10 and the filterchannels 31 and 32. To perform the rinsing mode, the open state of thedrain valves 40 and the closed state of the filter valves 21 and 22 maybe maintained. However, the drain valves 40 may be closed and thenopened again, and the filter valves 21 and 22 may be opened and thenclosed again. The processor may perform control such that the filterunits 10 additionally perform the regeneration mode in the rinsing mode.This is because due to the treatment substance adsorbed on the filterunits 10, it is not appropriate to directly use the filter units 10without regeneration.

Furthermore, the processor may perform control such that the filterunits 10 perform the removal mode in the rinsing mode. In addition, theprocessor may perform control such that raw water flows through thefilter units 10 in the rinsing mode. That is, to rinse and discharge thetreatment substance remaining in the filter units 10 and the channelsconnected thereto, the processor may perform control such that waterflows for a predetermined period of time and is discharged, irrespectiveof how to control the filter units 10.

After the third period of time, the processor may determine whetherwater is supplied to the consumption site P (S207). When it isdetermined that no water is supplied to the consumption site P, theprocessor may perform control such that the drain valves 40 are closedand the filter valves 21 and 22 are opened to form a state in whichwater is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site P. That is, theprocessor may perform control such that the drain valves 40 and thefilter valves 21 and 22 are in the standby state (S101) described above.

When it is determined that water is supplied to the consumption site P,the processor may perform control such that the drain valves 40 areclosed, the filter valves 21 and 22 are opened, and the filter units 10operate. For example, when it is determined that water is supplied tothe consumption site P, the processor may perform control such that thestates of the components are changed as in 5103. However, the processormay perform control such that the states of the components are changedas in 5105.

When the filter valves 21 and 22 are opened after the treatment by thetreatment substance is completed, the processor may perform control suchthat the third supply valve 23, which is the raw water valve, remainsclosed. This is because soft water is able to be supplied to theconsumption site P through the filter channels 31 and 32 so that rawwater does not need to be supplied together to the consumption site Pthrough the raw water channel.

Accordingly, the water-softening system may always determine whetherwater is supplied to a consumption site and may be appropriatelycontrolled to supply water to the consumption site.

Furthermore, predetermined treatment may be performed inside thewater-softening system.

In addition, during the treatment, the water-softening system maydetermine whether water is used in the consumption site.

Hereinabove, even though all of the components are coupled into one bodyor operate in a combined state in the description of the above-mentionedembodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is notlimited to these embodiments. That is, all of the components may operatein one or more selective combination within the range of the purpose ofthe present disclosure. It should be also understood that the terms of“include”, “comprise” or “have” in the specification are “open type”expressions just to say that the corresponding components exist and,unless specifically described to the contrary, do not exclude but mayinclude additional components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms usedherein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaningas those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which thepresent disclosure pertains. Such terms as those defined in a generallyused dictionary are to be interpreted as having meanings equal to thecontextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to beinterpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meanings unlessclearly defined as having such in the present application.

Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been described withreference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modifiedand altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure claimed in the following claims. Therefore, the exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure are provided to explain the spiritand scope of the present disclosure, but not to limit them, so that thespirit and scope of the present disclosure is not limited by theembodiments. The scope of the present disclosure should be construed onthe basis of the accompanying claims, and all the technical ideas withinthe scope equivalent to the claims should be included in the scope ofthe present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water-softening system comprising: a firstsupply channel and a second supply channel arranged in parallel tosupply raw water to a consumption site; a filter device including afirst filter unit provided in the first supply channel and a secondfilter unit provided in the second supply channel, wherein the firstfilter unit and the second filter unit remove at least part of ionicmatter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionization anddischarge soft water containing less ionic matter than the raw water; afirst supply valve provided in the first supply channel to open or closethe first supply channel and a second supply valve provided in thesecond supply channel to open or close the second supply channel; and aprocessor connected to the filter device, the first supply valve and thesecond supply valve, wherein the processor: determines whether water issupplied to the consumption site; and controls both the first supplyvalve and the second supply valve to remain open to maintain a state inwhich water is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site, when itis determined that no water is supplied to the consumption site.
 2. Thewater-softening system of claim 1, wherein the first and second filterunit selectively perform any one of a removal mode of removing the ionicmatter by electro-deionization through electrodes and a regenerationmode of regenerating the electrodes.
 3. The water-softening system ofclaim 2, wherein the processor performs control such that the firstfilter unit performs the removal mode in an open state of the firstsupply valve, when water starts to be supplied to the consumption site.4. The water-softening system of claim 3, wherein the processor controlsthe second filter unit to perform the regeneration mode and the secondsupply valve to be closed.
 5. The water-softening system of claim 3,wherein the processor determines again whether water is supplied to theconsumption site, when mode transition time elapses after the firstfilter unit performs the removal mode, and wherein when it is determinedthat water is supplied to the consumption site, the processor: controlsthe first filter unit to perform the regeneration mode; controls thesecond filter unit to perform the removal mode; controls the firstsupply valve to be closed; and controls the second supply valve to beopened.
 6. The water-softening system of claim 5, wherein the processordetermines again whether water is supplied to the consumption site,every time mode transition time elapses after water starts to besupplied to the consumption site, and wherein when it is determined thatno water is supplied to the consumption site, the processor: performscontrol such that the first or second filter unit configured to performthe removal mode performs the regeneration mode; performs control suchthat the first or second filter unit configured to perform theregeneration mode stops operating; performs control to open the first orsecond supply valve installed in the first or second supply channelprovided with the first or second filter unit configured to stopoperating; and performs control to close the first or second supplyvalve installed in the first or second supply channel provided with thefirst or second filter unit configured to perform the regeneration mode.7. The water-softening system of claim 6, wherein the processordetermines again whether water is supplied to the consumption sitewithin confirmation time, after it is determined that water supply tothe consumption site is stopped, and wherein when it is determined thatno water is supplied to the consumption site, the processor: controlsthe first and second filter units to stop operating; performs control toopen the first and second supply valve.
 8. The water-softening system ofclaim 6, wherein the processor determines again whether water issupplied to the consumption site within confirmation time, after it isdetermined that water supply to the consumption site is stopped, andwherein when it is determined that water is supplied to the consumptionsite, the processor performs control such that the first or secondfilter unit configured to stop operating performs the removal mode in astate in which open/closed states of the first and second supply valvesare maintained.
 9. The water-softening system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a flow-rate acquisition device configured to obtain a flowrate of water delivered to the consumption site, wherein the processoris additionally connected with the flow-rate acquisition device, andwherein the processor determines that water is supplied to theconsumption site, when the flow rate obtained by the flow-rateacquisition device is higher than or equal to a critical flow rate.